Tooth- and gingiva-cleaning construction operating with carbon dioxide originating in situ

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a tooth- and gingiva-cleaning construction which functions by the use of carbon dioxide; the construction consists of a tooth- and gingival-cleaning tool as well as of a container tool ordered to the cleaning tool at least before the application and fitting to the cleaning tool. Typical character of the construction is that the headpiece is divided into two elastic chambers ( 2 ) which are separated from each other with a water- and gas-impermeable separating wall ( 1 ), and the individual chambers ( 2 ) each has filling opening through which the different tooth-paste ingredients can be filled from the two container compartments of the container tool, and on both chambers ( 2 ) each a slit ( 4 ) can be found firstly near to the separating wall, through the slits the dentifrice content of the two chambers can flow out by the help of pressure.

The invention relates to a tooth- and gingiva-cleaning constructionwhich develops a vibration motion by the help of the in situ originatingcarbon dioxide gas in a perforated, from outside roughened membranewhich is directly connected with the set of teeth and forms a cleaningtool. One of the parts of the invention is the container tool, too.

The suitable cleaning of the oral cavity and within it firstly the teethand the gingiva is a problem equal in age with the humanity since thefailure of the oral hygiene can be accompanied with pain and sufferingas well as with digestive anomalies. The cleaning of the intertoothspace (gaps), however, is an especially difficult and unresolved problemtill now. Ten thousands of patents deal with the development oftooth-brushes and tooth-cleaning techniques. Besides of the improvedtools of the usual mechanical friction (brushing) it can be found theemployments of other physical and chemical tools, too, e.g. (but notlimited to) ultrasonic treatment, electrical vibrations, micro brushes,water under pressure, pulsating impulses, dissolved ozone, special gapcleaners, and the like.

The solution of the present invention bases on the use of carbon dioxidegas. Numerous forms of the use of the carbon dioxide exist in thetherapy the basis of which is first of all the vasodilator effect of thecarbon dioxide known for centuries and also scientifically justified.This therapy was earlier employed first of all in thermal baths, lateron, however, a lot of private, domestic carbon dioxide bath were workedup to cause the vasodilator effect. The vasodilator effect of the carbondioxide can be effective e.g. (but not limited to) in the followingforms:

-   -   bath in water enriched with carbon dioxide;    -   staying in a room containing carbon dioxide gas (“mofette”        effect);    -   direct topical intake of the carbon dioxide gas through the        skin; and    -   injection of carbon dioxide gas intravenously (insufflation).

The carbon dioxide, however, is employed in the therapy not only becauseof its vasodilator effect but this gas also can supply pressure, whereit is therapeutically necessary; e.g. grave wounds can be placed undercarbon dioxide pressure by the use of a pillow. The role of the carbondioxide here is to press the wound tightly but nevertheless mercifullyto avoid the loss of blood. The carbon dioxide originates from an outersource (US 2003/01139696).

Whatever solution should be in question the quality of the carbondioxide used has a significant effect to the applicability and theprice. The quality of the carbon dioxide—maybe with the exception of thenatural carbon dioxide sources of the thermal baths—can give a troubleeverywhere. Only that carbon dioxide mixture is suitable for therapeuticaim which is pure (pyrogenetic-free) and its carbon dioxide content isat least 96%. The industrial carbon dioxides don't meet theserequirements, which fact significantly increases the costs of thetreatment, why the cleaning requires an expensive process. This is theexplanation of the significant difference in the prices between thecarbon dioxide gas suitable for medical aim and the industrial carbondioxide gas.

As we have mentioned earlier the carbon dioxide gas used should bepharmaceutically suitable from the point of view of the purity. It canbe reached not only by cleaning the carbon dioxide gas but according toanother solution it is possible to form the carbon dioxide from cleaned(optionally sterilized) basic materials first of all on the scene of theemployment. For this it is necessary that the reactants of a simplecarbon dioxide developing reaction should be present separating fromeach other, and by the help of a performed manipulation these separatedreactants combined with each other form carbon dioxide. The reactants ofthe simplest reaction developing carbon dioxide are the carbonates orhydrogen carbonates and (weak) acids, respectively, and the procedureperformed can be any physical joining being able to start the reaction.The already activating chemical reaction is maintained by thecontinuously releasing water on the basis of the following reaction:

CO₃ ⁻⁻+2H⁺→CO₂+H₂O

Such a physical procedure for starting the reaction, e.g. at theeffervescent tablets (powders, granules) the solving of the dry mixturein water, where the reactants separated in dry condition join with eachother while dissolving. Further, such a physical procedure is thejoining the reactants from two elastic containers first of all bypressure where the reactants staying separately in the two containersare being pressed out and develop carbon dioxide.

The nature of the reactants to be found in the foam-forming mixture isnot too essential from the point of view of the invention; it isimportant only that at the joining of the reactants and the water carbondioxide of suitable amount should be formed. As a matter of fact thepoint of views of the selection are really the same as in the case ofeffervescent tablets, powders or granules based on similar reaction,that is the formed ions should not be caustic, toxic or bad-tasting(rather should be good to the taste, respectively, although it isguaranteed by the toothpaste). Of course, from the point of view of theselection the economic point of views are very significant, too. Quitelike as at the effervescent (sparkling) tablets, powders or granules thecombination of citric acid and sodium hydrogen carbonate can beconsidered as an excellent combination. Instead of citric acid amongothers succinic acid, malic acid or ascorbic acid are suitable, too. Asa carbonate developing carbon dioxide above all the calcium carbonatecomes into question from the point of view of costs but among otherssodium carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, potassium carbonate,potassium hydrogen carbonate or magnesium carbonate are suitable, too.At the selection of the ingredients it is unconditionally necessary totake into consideration that the ingredient should be passed through afilling opening and an extrusive opening.

In this application an invention is in question according to which thecarbon dioxide originates in the scene i.e. in the oral cavity, and thecarbon dioxide developed has a double role. Its primary role is tosupply pressure to a membrane which comes into vibration and increasesthe cleaning effect of the toothpaste. Its only secondary but notcompletely negligible role is the physiological vasodilator effectdisplayed to the mucous membrane, which is, however, is of too shortperiod to display stronger effect. The refreshing, cooling effect of thecarbon dioxide asserts itself in the oral cavity, too, which isadvantageous compared to the traditional tooth-cleanings.

The technical literature knows numerous solutions according to which thecarbon dioxide displays some pharmaceutical effect in the mouth. Amongthem, however, it can be found only a few solution where the reactiondeveloping carbon dioxide happens in the oral cavity itself. Thesesolutions constitute the prior art for this invention. According to thepatent document GB368423 over and above the active ingredientsgas-developing compositions are incorporated into water-free gelatine,including succinic acid and sodium hydrogen carbonate, which, joining insuitable manner, develop carbon dioxide. As far as the arrival at aparticular place the components are separated from each other in thegelatine, and the joining happens at the admission into the body cavity(prominently mentioning the oral cavity) by melting the gelatine.

According to PCT document WO88101110 the active ingredient of adentifrice preparation is stannic(II) fluoride but it also containsgrinding- and filling materials as well as a material mixture developingcarbon dioxide under suitable circumstances. A paste develops mixing itwith the saliva, and carbon dioxide develops, too, which helps by meansof its mechanical effect in that the stannic(II) fluoride and thegrinding material should get at the surface of teeth. The preparationcan be swallowed after use.

In Japanese patent document JP127551 such acid and base are mixedtogether in solid state which develop carbon dioxide under the influenceof humidity in the oral cavity. The further ingredients of the mixtureare the different additives and surface-active agents (detergents). Thispreparation is suitable for cleaning and disinfecting the oral cavityincluding teeth and gingiva, and for refreshing the breath. In all thisthe developing carbon dioxide has a significant role.

In Japanese patent document JP10279453 it can be found a compositionwhich is able to remove the fur and plaque from the surface of teeth andis able to prevent the deterioration and the illnesses of the teeth. Thecomposition of the tooth-powder preparation is the following:

-   -   A. a kind of carbonate or hydrogen carbonate,    -   B. a kind of weak acid, first of all organic acid,    -   C. a kind of surface-active agent (detergent), and optionally    -   D. a kind of a wearing (grinding) material.

This composition effectively disperses the formulated preparations, e.g.pharmaceutical compositions under the effect of humidity by the help ofthe carbon dioxide developing in the oral cavity.

It can be laid down as a fact that the aim of the solutions beingobtainable in the said documents is similar, their implementations havesimilar elements, too, but the solution according to this invention iswell separable from them which will be demonstrated by the detaileddescription of the invention. The aim of our invention is theelimination of the insufficiencies of the solutions belonging to theprior art.

The essence of the solution according to the invention at the tooth- andgingiva-cleaning construction is a cleaning tool reminding oftooth-brush and playing the role of a tooth-brush on the headpiece ofwhich there are no bristles; plastic- or rubber membrane substitute forthe bristles.

In this construction the container tool can be any tool which issuitable for occasionally filling up the two chambers of the headpieceof the cleaning tool divided into several parts, preferably two parts.Whatever container containing a kind of dentifrice, expedientlytoothpaste, consists of two container compartments as contrasted withthe traditional toothpaste tubes, where in one of the containercompartments some kind of carbonate or hydrogen carbonate, in anothercontainer compartment some kind of weak acid can be found.

The other further ingredients of the toothpaste can be found in the samecontainer compartments; that which in what is decided by the technologyand the compatibility of the materials. It is imaginable such a solutionthat in both container compartments each a toothpaste can be found withthe same composition, the only difference is in the ingredientssupplying the acid and the carbonate, respectively. This container toolhas two outgoing openings from which the two components can be filledinto the chamber being obtainable in the headpiece of the cleaning tool.This two-piece container tool according to one of the preferableexecutive form of the invention is a rigid-walled container, so calledroll container provided with a piston but any container tool can besuitable which is able to fulfil the abovementioned task.

The headpiece of the tooth- and gingiva-cleaning tool reminding oftooth-brush is supplied lengthwise with a separation wall and thus isdivided into two chambers. The toothpaste ingredient arrives from thechambers at the cleaning instrument through slit each. An about 3 mmthick cleaning instrument which is a soft, perforated, spongy-structuredrubber equipment, substitutes for the traditional brushes in thiscleaning tool. The rubber part of the cleaning instrument connected withthe teeth has a from outside roughened surface. The perforation plays adouble role: the toothpaste goes through it from the container part ofthe tooth-cleaning tool to the surface, at the same time the developingcarbon dioxide gas causes resonance in the rubber body in that way thatthe overpressured gas pass through the elastic-structured material. Thecarbon dioxide gas takes the toothpaste along and squeezes it into thegaps among teeth, in this manner such a “turbo” cleaning effect can bereached which raises this solution among the best solutions though ituses only simple tools. The resonance is responsible to the mechanicalcleaning effect.

During the tooth-cleaning it is possible to bring pressure to theelastic wall of the chambers of the cleaning tool, in this manner thetwo reacting components are pressed into (under) the surface of the fromouter roughened, elastic, spongy-structured rubber membrane behaving asresonator and substituting brushes and forming cleaning instrument.

Thus, the carbon dioxide has first of all a resonance-stimulating andpressing effect among teeth. Because of the littleness of the stayingperiod the physiological, vasodilator and refreshing effect of thecarbon dioxide displayed to the mucous membrane is only a secondary butnot negligible effect. The leaving carbon dioxide gives a coolingimpression in the oral cavity which is similar to the impression of amineral water saturated with carbon dioxide.

A lot of variations of the solutions according to the invention arepossible and we don't wish to limit our invention to one or another ofthe preferable executive forms.

Consequently a lot of different solutions can exist for the execution ofthe construction. Examining the individual parts of the construction wemake known a practical, advantageous solution each. The scope of theinvention is determined most commonly by claim 1, and the executiveexamples are determined by the dependent claims.

FIG. 1. and FIG. 2. shows one of the advantageous forms of the tooth-and gingiva-cleaning tool of the construction according to theinvention.

The tool can be seenin FIG. 1. in side-view,in FIG. 2. in bottom-view.

FIG. 3. is the sketch of the container tool.

1 is the separation wall foil between the two refillable 2 chambers. The3 cleaning instrument is a from outside roughened, perforated, spongyrubber layer. 4 slits can be found between 2 chambers and 3 cleaninginstrument for passing on the ingredients. The 5 filling openings serveto the admission of the materials of the container tool into the 2chambers. Though our invention is not limited to the executing formpresented in FIG. 1. and FIG. 2., this form is, nevertheless, the mostsuitable as far as both the handle and headpiece are concerned, but thetooth-brushes have a form shaping up by the everyday practice. It doesnot constitute the subject-matter of the invention, what is thedimension of the headpiece, what is the length of the handle and what isthe scale-relation between the headpiece and the handle.

FIG. 3. introduces one of the possible forms of the container tool ofthe construction according to invention. The container tool containingthe toothpaste is a rigid-walled container, so-called roll container,being composed from two 7 a, 7 b container compartments and suppliedwith two 8 a, 8 b dosing instruments, preferably piston, where in thecontainer compartments the one and another components, respectively, canbe found, and on which the two 6 filling instruments are suitable forthat aim that one or another component, respectively, should be filledin from here into the chambers of the headpiece of the cleaning toolthrough 5 filling openings. Containers of such type are available intrade.

The construction according to the invention and within it the tooth- andgingiva-cleaning tool and container tool function in such manner thatthe two different toothpaste ingredients filled in the two 7 a, 7 bcontainer compartments of the preferably rigid-walled container tooloccasionally will be filled through the 5 filling openings into the twoseparated 2 chambers of the headpiece of the tooth- and gingiva-cleaningtool by the help of two 8 a, 8 b dosing instruments preferably pistons,and by the employment of the two 6 filling instruments, and theheadpiece will be pressed fitting the tool to the teeth. Theelastic-walled 2 chambers of the headpiece empty their contents into orbehind, respectively, the elastic rubber body, constituting the 3cleaning instrument, through 4 slits being obtainable in the vicinity ofthe separation wall. The two ingredients of the toothpaste combine here,carbon dioxide forms from the acid and the carbonate which makes themembrane of 3 cleaning instrument vibrate, and the toothpaste as well asthe carbon dioxide leave across the perforations of the 3 cleaninginstrument. The vibration of the membrane of the 3 cleaning instrumentpresses the tooth-paste between the teeth while the carbon dioxide hasvasodilator effect for a short time to the gingiva and a refreshingeffect in the oral cavity. The cleaning of the instrument and itsheadpiece can be performed in fresh water by repeated kneading.

A lot of different solutions of the execution of the construction canexist. Examining certain parts of the construction it is worthy to callthe attention to the following solutions. As we have mentioned earlierthe shape and the size of the cleaning tool itself remind of thetraditional tooth-brush. As a 3 cleaning instrument about 3 mm thick,soft, perforated, spongy, from outside roughened rubber membraneequipment substitutes for traditional bristles, the meaning of therubber being understand wider, i.e. including here the plasticmembranes, too, which are able to fulfil this role.

The composition of the dentifrice itself is not significant from thepoint of view of the invention except from the (weak) acid andcarbonate; a toothpaste of whatever composition which is suitable forcleaning the tooth can be carried up onto the teeth by the help of thesaid construction, and the subject-matter of the invention is not thecomposition of the toothpaste. From the point of view of the inventionit is essential only that the components of the toothpaste finallyshould combine by mixing the contents of the container compartmentswhere one of the compartments contains certain (weak) acid and anothercompartment contains certain carbonate or hydrogen carbonate.

The headpiece of the tooth- and gingiva-cleaning tool in question isdivided into two elastic-walled 2 chambers impermeable for gases andhumidity. The material of the elastic-walled chambers can be any plasticimpermeable for gases and humidity, but from the point of view of bothprice and suitability the polyalkylene plastics as polyethylene orpolypropylene are preferred.

The dimension and the arrangement of the different pipes and openingscan be critical. It is advantageous that the toothpaste ingredients(charges) to be combined get into the spongy material not on the fullsurface but through a 4 slit of 2 mm calibre where this 4 slit can befound along the wall separating the two ingredients. In this manner itis possible to guarantee that a perfectly mixed material should appearon the edges of the tooth- and gingiva-cleaning tool, too, which isimportant first of all because of pH value.

In the course of an advantageous executing example such a constructionstructure is made which consists of a tooth- and gingiva-cleaning tooland fitting to it of a rigid-walled container tool divided two 7 a, 7 bcontainer compartments, where the rigid-walled container tool is acontainer available in trade divided into two compartments, which has 6filling instrument each for outgoing the different toothpasteingredients being obtainable in the two 7 a, 7 b container compartmentsand for forwarding them into the tooth- and gingiva-cleaning tool, aswell as has dosing instrument preferably piston each. The composition ofthe two different tooth-pastes is practically the same, e.g. AquatestHerbal toothpaste (Glaxo SmithKlyne) but in addition to the toothpastein one of the 7 a, 7 b container compartments 10% sodium hydrogencarbonate, in another compartment 5% citric acid can be found. Thetooth- and gingiva-cleaning tool itself consists of a handle of 18 cm inlength and of a headpiece 3 cm×1.2 cm×1.6 cm of size, within it theheadpiece is divided into two elastic 2 chambers, which consist ofpolypropylene foil and are separated from each other with 1 separatingwall made from water- and gas-impermeable polypropylene. On both 2chambers 4 slits of 2 mm size can be found near to the 1 separating wallthrough which the contents of the two 2 chambers can flow out on theinfluence of a manual pressure. Both 2 chambers have 5 filling openingeach through which the different toothpaste ingredients can be filledfrom the said two-part container tool through the 6 filling instrument.

The headpiece of the tooth- and gingiva-cleaning tool is covered with anelastic, soft, perforated, spongy-structured, from outside roughened, 3mm wide rubber membrane equipment, which equipment comes into vibrationby the help of the developing carbon dioxide, and through perforationsof which the tooth-paste and the carbon dioxide flow out. The advantageof this invention is that by the help of which a bristle-free,tooth-protecting, at the same time effective ‘“turbo tooth-brush” can beestablished.

1-4. (canceled)
 5. Tooth- and gingiva-cleaning construction with the useof carbon dioxide which consists of a tooth- and gingiva-cleaning toolas well as of a container tool ordered to the cleaning tool at leastbefore the application and fitting to the cleaning tool, wherein thetooth- and gingiva-cleaning tool comprises a handle and a headpiece, theheadpiece is divided into two elastic chambers which are separated fromeach other with a water- and gas-impermeable separating wall, everysimple chamber has a filling opening suitable for filling indentifrices, on the chambers first of all near to the separating wall itcan be found a slit allowing the outflow of the contents of theneighbouring chambers by the help of pressure, further the headpieceincludes a cleaning instrument, this cleaning instrument is covered withan elastic, perforated equipment which comes into vibration by the helpof the developing carbon dioxide, and through the perforations of whichthe dentifrice and the carbon dioxide flow out, further the containertool contains at least one but suitably two container compartments, thecontainer compartment each is supplied with a filling instrumentsuitable to the conduction of the dentifrice ingredients into thefilling opening, where in at least one of the container compartments acarbonate or hydrogen carbonate, in at least another containercompartment a weak acid can be found in addition to the dentifriceingredients.
 6. Construction according to claim 5, wherein the cleaninginstrument is covered with an elastic, thick, soft, perforated,spongy-structured rubber- or plastic membrane equipment.
 7. Constructionaccording to claim 6, wherein the chambers being obtainable on theheadpiece of the cleaning tool, and the separating wall separating themare made from a polyalkylene.
 8. Construction according to claim 7,wherein in its one of container compartments sodium hydrogen carbonatein preferably 8-12% and its another container compartment citric acid inpreferably 3-7% can be found.
 9. Construction according to claim 5,wherein the chambers being obtainable on the headpiece of the cleaningtool, and the separating wall separating them are made from apolyalkylene.
 10. Construction according to claim 6, wherein in its oneof container compartments sodium hydrogen carbonate in preferably 8-12%and its another container compartment citric acid in preferably 3-7% canbe found.
 11. Construction according to claim 5, wherein in its one ofcontainer compartments sodium hydrogen carbonate in preferably 8-12% andits another container compartment citric acid in preferably 3-7% can befound.